'Jakeman' buddy up

ELLEN CONNELLY

Two of the hottest men in Hollywood, Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, have been hanging out together in recent weeks as they prepare for a new film, Prisoners.

Filming of the kidnap thriller begins on January 16 in Atlanta, Georgia, and the actors took time out of their busy schedules to meet up in New York for a tete-a-tete.

Prisoners tells the story of a carpenter, Keller, played by Jackman, whose daughter is kidnapped, along with her best friend. He comes up against Gyllenhaal, who stars as a brash hot-shot detective assigned to the case.

Cate Blanchett. Photo: AFP

''A lot of the film will be shot in Atlanta … some likely also in Pennyslvania,'' a source says.

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Some Twitter spies observed the film crew setting up in the town of Conyers, Georgia, last week with ''Captive'' signs and other obvious props for the drama.

Gyllenhaal, 32, and Jackman, who both live in New York, are expected to arrive on set during the weekend.

There has been little rest lately for either actor. Gyllenhaal wrapped up an intense four-month stint in the off-Broadway production If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, while Jackman finished filming The Wolverine in December and then went straight into an international publicity tour for Les Miserables.

While Prisoners is the second collaboration between Gyllenhaal and director Denis Villeneuve (they worked on the coming thriller An Enemy), it is the first time Jackman and Gyllenhaal have met.

The pair are said to be excited to be working on a film together.

Jackman, who was dealt a blow recently with news his father, Chris, has Alzheimer's, was given a boost this week when he gained his first Oscar nomination for best actor in Les Miserables.

Jackman is also rumoured to be presenting an award at the February 24 event and may do a musical number.

Following the Oscar nomination announcements overnight on January 11, Jackman's mate and co-star, Russell Crowe, tweeted: ''Congrats to Hugh and Anne Hathaway and all involved with Les Miserables, love and congrats to Jacki Weaver too, wonderful news.''

CATE IN HOT WATER

Cate Blanchett has revealed her secret weapon when she had to brave London's chilly temperatures in a backless designer dress for the red carpet premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Hidden in her clutch bag was a mini

hot-water bottle.

''Look, I'd psyched myself up for it being minus 4. And it wasn't,'' Blanchett, who wore a ''nice little Givenchy number'', told a British newspaper.

''I had a hand-warmer in my hand and I switched it to my other hand, and I realised it was completely frozen.''

Blanchett says she also uses mini

hot-water bottles for night shoots, and finds putting ''warmers down your back'' eases the sting of the winter air.

During the interview in a London hotel, the 43-year-old alluded to her advancing age (''I'm menopausal, can we turn the heating down?'') but said she would be reluctant to go down the path of plastic surgery.

''You do get asked that question a lot as an actress; suddenly you are meant to make a stand … the long-term effects of doing that stuff do frighten me.''

There was also her off-the-cuff remark in 2008 that her husband, Andrew Upton, would divorce her if she contemplated Botox or a facelift.

But Blanchett said in her interview with The Times that she did not judge those who turned to cosmetic surgeons for help.

''If it makes you feel better, that's your choice, but I do find that stuff a little bit … I mean, do they look better? I do look at people who haven't done anything, and in the end I think they look a lot better.''

The actor, who was spotted at a Sydney beach with her children in early January, will head to Hungary and Budapest soon on a family holiday, where she might well need that hot-water bottle.

MALE-ORDER FORMULA

Wellness coach and personal trainer to the stars James Duigan tells S he has a bevy of international models to thank for his invention of a jet-lag supplement, Body Serenity.

''I had to develop a formula, because the Victoria's Secret girls were having trouble sleeping after flying across four different time zones in two days,'' Duigan tells S from his Bondi pad.

''It's proved incredible as their secret weapon, and it also helps flatten tummies as it combats stress and makes you sleep better.''

As a result Duigan now markets the formula, which contains ingredients including chamomile, magnesium, calcium and hops, to help overcome jet-lag and sleeping problems.

''I take it for jet-lag, as it's great when you land and have to get into the rhythm of things,'' he says.

Speaking to S about the launch of his new book, Clean & Lean Warrior, Duigan says while supplements are helpful, a natural diet that avoids processed food, alcohol and sugar is key for a healthy lifestyle and weight loss.

The book, his fourth, is targeted specifically at men, because he says he noticed there were few publications aimed at those who wanted to change their lifestyle, eat better and lose weight.

''The only books available seemed to be for bodybuilders,'' says Duigan, who divides his time between Australia, London and Los Angeles.

Among his male clients is actor Hugh Grant, who is thought to not be a morning person and needs a protein and super green powder formula when he wakes, followed by a swim at Bodyism, Duigan's gym in London where Elle Macpherson and Holly Valance are members.

GRANT'S BACK IN THE HEADLINES

Interesting times afoot for indigenous current affairs at SBS as Stan Grant returns to the network to work at the new free-to-air indigenous channel, NITV.

Grant left SBS and Australia in 2007 in a whirl of controversy after long-time newsreader Mary Kostakidis quit due to her displeasure working alongside him reading the prime-time news.

But Grant, who has spent the past 12 years in Asia and the Middle East for CNN International, dismisses claims SBS news employees are ''curious'' about his return.

''I think the outward perception is sometimes different from the reality,'' he tells S.

He admits that during his 12-month stint at SBS in 1996-97 he was ''frustrated'', as he wanted to be overseas covering the big stories.

''It's a different time for me. Now I can come back and feel I've done the things I wanted to do and have a different life and different career.'' Grant says he decided to move back to Sydney with his wife of 10 years, Tracey Holmes, and son, 11, to be closer to his other three children and elderly parents.

His main role will be working for pay TV channel Sky News, where he has been appointed international editor and will also present Newsnight with Stan Grant Monday to Thursday, starting on January 28. But he also wanted to have input to programs on NITV.

''It's something very close to my heart,'' he tells S.

The 50-year-old, who has appeared on NITV for the past month, says he has plenty of ideas for new programs for the network, including working in news and current affairs as well as producing a possible "six-part documentary treatment of my book, The Tears of Strangers''.

But a source says some staff are watching closely how his involvement plays out.

''People are curious about what Stan will be doing and how it will balance with the flagship program Living Black, hosted by his ex-wife, Karla,'' the source says. ''It's set to get really interesting in indigenous current affairs.''

Grant says he has a ''great relationship'' with Karla, as their children have always been their priority.

MORSELS

French femme fatale Emmanuelle Beart will call the Gold Coast home for a while as she begins filming on a new Aussie drama, My Mistress.

Shooting begins on January 21 and will take about two months. ''Emmanuelle is a fearless actress who has portrayed so many incredible women,'' director Stephen Lance says.

The Belgium-based performer is expected to land in Australia soon for the film, which also stars AFI Award-winning actor Rachael Blake (Lantana).

My Mistress is described as ''an unconventional and provocative love story''. It is about a teenager grieving after the suicide of his father who seeks help from a local French S&M mistress.

Reality TV star Gary ''Gaz'' Beadle, who disgusted women across the globe when he started the Twitter craze #bed of shame, is heading Down Under.

The Geordie Shore star suffered an enormous backlash after he encouraged men to snap sneaky photos of their sleeping one-night stands and then post them online.

Despite the hate mail the 24-year-old says he has millions of female fans and is coming to Australia to ''meet and greet'' them. A national tour of bars and clubs, including Sydney's Establishment, kicks off on January 17.

He tells S via email he will be ''partying, meeting all the fans as I no [sic] there is a lot in Australia''.

''I actually love Aussie girls they all stay very healthy tanned sport and always naturally pretty so u never no [sic].''

Even actors call in sick. Scarlett Johansson pulled out of a preview performance of her new Broadway show, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, at the beginning of January due to the flu.

The Hollywood actress, 28, who marks her return to the stage as Maggie the Cat alongside Benjamin Walker in the Tennessee Williams play, has been keenly watched by her new man, French journalist Romain Dauriac, 30.

Johansson, who was married for two years to Ryan Reynolds, recently told Elle UK she prefers to date men not in show business, calling relationships with actors ''monotonous''. Surely she could not be referring to Sean Penn, her fling from 2012? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is set to officially open in New York on January 17.

The respected BBC political presenter, Andrew Marr, suffered a stroke on Tuesday, but is reportedly ''conscious and continuing to progress''.

The 53-year-old father of three had interviewed the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, two days earlier for his Sunday morning show on BBC1.

Marr is known to be a fitness fanatic and long-distance runner, and the incident is said to have rocked the staff at BBC and politicians. ''He and his family are touched by all the warm wishes and support,'' the national broadcaster says in a statement.